Highlights from the solar eclipse of June 2001: SOHO and ground-based images
The first eclipse of the new millennium did not disappoint observers. Here is a selection of some striking eclipse images from SOHO
and ground-based observers

SOHO and live eclipse images
The joint ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) wil gather images of both the corona and the
Sun surface before, during, and after the eclipse.

What is an eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the observer. This happens when the shadow
cone of the Moon intersects the surface of the Earth, and is observable by anyone within this shadow zone.

The science of eclipses
The study of the Earth's shadow projected on the Moon allows us to deduce that the Earth is
spherical. The Ancient Greeks worked this out, but this was only the start of doing science with eclipses.

More about eclipses
Solar and lunar eclipses are not independent. For both kinds of eclipse the Sun, Earth and Moon have to be aligned.
In addition, a lunar eclipse often occurs 15 days before or after a solar eclipse.

The eclipse in history
Eclipses have always been associated with legends, myths and symbols which constitute a rich
source of inspiration in different cultures and epochs.

Relativity and the 1919 eclipse
The most important eclipse in the history of science occurred on 29 May 1919. Just six months after the end of
World War I, British astronomers used it to test a crazy idea that emanated from Germany in 1915.

Animations and images
A solar eclipse is one of Nature's most glorious spectacles. For those who cannot experience the eclipse
in person, images can convey some sense of the beauty of an eclipse.

Other related sites
Links to other sites covering the June 2001 solar eclipse.